Sidewalk-skylight.



H. DE CORDOVA.

SIDBWALK SKYLIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.11, 1914.

WITNESSES 'HE NDR PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHO WASHING TON, D. c.

H. DE CORDOVA.

SIDBWALK SKYLIGHT.

APPLIOATION FILED 111111.11, 1914.

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HORACIO DE CORDOVA, 0F HABANA, CUBA.

SIDEWALK-SKYLIGHT.

Spccication of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

Application led March 11, 1914. Serial No. 823,911.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACIO DE CORDOVA, a citizen of Cuba, and a resident of Habana, Cuba, have invented a new and Improved Sidewalk-Skylight, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to building construction and has particular reference to lighting facilities for subways or basements .adjacent sidewalks, streets or the like.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a sidewalk skylight construction which is adapted to provide not Aonly light but ventilation, but Without subjecting the basement or subway to the unsanitary conditions which usually accompany ventilating devices heretofore proposed.

More definitely stated my invention in its broader aspects contemplates the combination with an open grating, for sustaining heavy traffic, of a windowlight construction spaced below the grating, either movable Or immovable, screening being provided between the grating and the windowlight construction and facilities being provided to flush or otherwise cleanse the accumulations of dust and dirt from the windowlight construction.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the drawings forming a part of this specification in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional viewof one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a detail of the same with the adjustable part moved upwardly to exclude dust and cold air from passing downwardly beyond the windowlight; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modification of the invention; Fig. 4 is a perspective lview of a further modification; and Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4.

The several parts of the device may be made of any suitable materials, and the relative sizes and proportions, as well as the general design of the mechanism, may be varied to a considerable extent without departing from the-spirit of the invention hereinafter more fully described and specificallv claimed.

While I employ herein the term sidewalk said term is to be given an interpretation broad enough to make it clearly understood that the invention is applicable to general street construction for the ventilating and lighting of subways generally or for certain roof constructions or the like, the principle of the invention being the same in all cases.

At 10 I show any suitable form of openwork grating for the support of pedestrians or other traffic along the way. The grating 10 being open allows comparatively free passage of air up or down therethrough and also permits the light to enter into the space beneath. As shown in Fig. 1, the grating is supported upon any suitable substructure including vertical beams or walls 11 to which may be connected a pair of brackets 12 and 13.

At 14 I show a plate of glass which generically may be regarded hereinafter as a transparency of any suitable construction, shown in this form of the invention, however, as supported upon an angle metal frame 15 having a vertical iange 16 and a horizontal flange 17. The transparency 14 may be connected permanently to the bottom flange 17 by bolts 18 or otherwise.

The frame 15 is connected in any suitable manner to and supported upon the upper ends of standards 19 preferably arranged in pairs and coperating severally with the uprights 11. Each of the standards is provided with rack teeth 2O and at its lower end is provided with an extension 21 adapted to be gripped by any suitable locking means shown at 22 as comprising a set screw 23. The toothed portions of the standards are guided for vertical movement in the brackets 12 and 13 and cooperate respectively with toothed wheels 24 and 25. The wheels 24 and 25 may be caused to rotate simultaneously in opposite directions on horizontal pivots in said brackets by any suitable means. I show for this purpose a sprocket chain 26 leading from the wheel 24 to a Wheel 27 journaled in the bracket 13 and meshing with the toothed wheel 25. The

Wheels 24 and 27 through the connecting chain 26 may be operated in either direction by any suitable means and from any desired place. For this purpose, however, I show a hand chain 28 suspended within the subway from the wheel 24. Draft upon the chain 28 in either direction will cause a corresponding rotation of the wheels and either elevation or lowering of the standards 19 and frame 15. After the proper adjustment has been made, the same may be made secure by means of the clamps 22.

At 29 I provide a rim of any suitable compressible material extending around and slightly above the upwardly projecting flange 16 of the frame 15. The upper edge of this rim 29 is adapted to lit snugly against the closed base flange 10a of the grating, as shown in Fig. 2. When in this position light may pass downwardly through the grating and the transparency, but there will be no circulation of air between the frame and the grating base 10a. It follows, consequently, that there will be no dust or the like admitted into the subway through the grating at this time. It being desirable, however, in many instances to provide a circulation of air or ventilation between the rim 29 and the base 10, I provide some suitable reticulated means, such as shown at 30, but which may be collapsed or folded during the adjustments of the transparency toward or from the grating. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said reticulated element is adapted to be collapsed or folded upon itself, somewhat like an accordion, so as not to obstruct the way of the rim 29 closing up as described above and not interfering with the lowering of the frame 15 and transparency when ventilation as well as light is needed.

The transparency 14 constituting a substantially tight bottom for the frame 15, it is desirable at frequent intervals to flush or otherwise cleanse the same' from impurities which iare received thereinto through the grating.v For this purpose I provide an inlet pipe 31 communicating with one end of the frame 15 and adapted to deliver water or the like over the upper surface ofthe transparency. At 32 I provide an outlet pipe through which the cleansing water may be delivered, the pipe 32 being arranged preferably at the opposite side of the construction from the inlet In Fig. 3 I show a transparency 14 supported in a frame 15 and adapted to be adjusted vertically either bodily or one end at a time with respect to the grating 10. The adjusting means in this form of the invention comprises a pairef chains, cables or the like, shown at 33 and 34, having their ends connected to the opposite ends of the frame 15 and extending upwardly over direction pulleys 33 and 34 associated with the grating. The chains may thence extend in any direction and to any desired distance. These chains may be manipulated either together orA independently, whereby one end of the frame may be dropped below the other, if desired, for facilitating any cleansing or flushing of the transparency or for any other purpose. It is 0bvious that by pulling upon the chains the entire frame 15 may be drawn up snugly against the grating in a manner corresponding to that shown in Fig. 2.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the transparency 14 is supported in Xed position in a stationary frame 15 below the grating 10. Inlet and outlet pipes 31 and 32 may be provided to iiush the interior of the casing or frame, as already set forth. Additional lighting facilities may be provided for this construction in the use of hinged panels 35, each provided with one or more panes of glass 36. The hinges for these panels are preferably along their lower edges and facilities are provided to lock said panels closed as, for instance, through suitable latches 37 or they may be allowed to swing open, as shown in Fig. 5, for the purpose of ventilation` Screening 38 may be provided to eX- clude heavier particles of dust or filth from entering the frame 15 at the tops of the panels. Said screening or netting-38 may be secured to a pair of segmental wings 39 for each of the panels.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a device of the character set forth, the combination with a grating, of a horizontal vertically movable frame beneath the grating, a transparency supported by the frame in spaced relation to the grating, collapsible reticulated devices between said frame and said grating allowing for a circulation of air through the grating and to prevent the entrance of foreign matter with the air, and means to flush accumulations of dust or the like from the upper surface of the transparency.

2. The combination of a grating including a base flange surrounding it, a frame beneath the grating, al transparency carried by said frame and constituting a closed bottom therefor, means to adjust the frame and its transparency vertically with respect to the gratingy and its base flange, and means to flush accumulations of' dust or the like from within' the frame and the top of the transparency in any position of adjustment thereof.

3. The combination with a grating including a closed base flange surrounding it, of a frame beneath'the grating, a transparency supported by said frame, means to adjust In testimony whereof I have signed my the frame and its transparency vertically name to this specification in the presence of toward or from the grating, and a comprestWo subscribing Witnesses.

sible rim secured to the frame and eXtend- HORACIO DE CORDOVA. ing above the same and adapted to cop- Witnesses:

erate With the grating base flange, substan- RAOUL F. WASHINGTON,

tially as set forth. GREGORIO PERES.

Copies oi' this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

